Showing posts with label Igor Stravinsky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Igor Stravinsky. Show all posts

December 22, 2025

20,000 vinyl LPs 404: Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Spirit Of Christmas

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Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ~ The Spirit of Christmas
vinyl LP front cover 
 cover photo by 
photo of album cover by Styrous®


On December 22, 1885, American composer, radio commentator, music critic, and author Joseph Deems Taylor was born. Despite minimal musical training he took to music composition. The result was a series of works for orchestra and/or voices. In 1916 he wrote the cantata The Chambered Nautilus, followed by Through the Looking-Glass (for orchestra) in 1918, earning him public praise and recognition. He acquired several students, including composer Mary Watson Weaver.          
 
 
Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ~ The Spirit of Christmas
vinyl LP front cover 
 cover photo by 
photo of album cover by Styrous®
 
 
In 1921 he secured a job as music critic for the New York World, a post he held until 1929. When approached by the Metropolitan Opera to suggest a composer to write a new opera. He put forth his own name, and was accepted, the result being The King's Henchman, with the libretto by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Peter Ibbetson followed in 1929. He was a promoter of classical music throughout his life.           
He appeared in the Walt Disney 1940 film Fantasia as the film's Master of Ceremonies, and was instrumental in selecting the musical pieces that were used in the film, including the then-controversial Sacre du Printemps by Igor Stravinsky. That same year, he served the same role as Master of Ceremonies for the classical portion of a Carousel of American Music, a famous concert series held in San Francisco on September 24. The concert had Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Jerome Kern, Hoagy Carmichael, WC Handy, Johnny Mercer, and many more of America's top songwriting talents performing their own compositions.     
 

 
Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ~ The Spirit of Christmas
vinyl LP Side 1 & 2 
photo by Styrous®


   
Tracklist:
       
Side 1:
        
A1 - Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming, Arranged By [Harmonized By] – Michael Praetorius - 2:32

A2 - Tell Us, Shepherd Maids, Arranged By – Mary E. Caldwell - 2:16

A3 - O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Music By – Lewis H. Redner*, Written-By – Phillips Brooks - 1:44

A4 - The Snow Lay On The Ground, Arranged By – Leo Sowerby - 3:38

A5 - The Shepherds' Story, Lyrics By – William Morris (9), Written-By – Clarence Dickinson - 4:32

A6 - For Christ Is Born, Arranged By – R. Crawford*, Written-By – K. Aiken*, Mary E. Crawford* - 4:12

A7 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!, Adapted By – W. H. Cummings*, Music By – Felix Mendelssohn*, Words By – Charles Wesley - 1:42

A8 - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Arranged By – Arthur Warrell - 2:12

A9 - The Coventry Carol, Arranged By – Bryceson Treharne - 3:32
       
Side 2:
       
B1 - Silent Night, Holy Night, Music By – Franz Gruber, Words By – Josef Mohr* - 3:15

B2 - Carol Of The Bells, Arranged By – Peter J. Wilhousky*, Written-By – M. Leontovich* - 1:30

B3 - Glory To God In The Highest, Written-By – Giovanni B. Pergolesi* - 3:28

B4 - The Three Kings, Lyrics By – Rev. Lluis Romeu, Translated By – Deems Taylor, Written-By – Kurt Schindler - 2:30

B5 - Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (Christmas Oratorio), Written-By – Johan S. Bach* - 1:50

B6 - Bethlehem Night, Lyrics By – W. Leslie Nicholls, Music By – Arthur Warrell - 1:55

B7 - What Perfume Is This? O Shepherds, Say!, Arranged By – Samuel Liddle - 2:12

B8 - Christmas Day, Written-By – Gustav Holst - 7:06

B9 - O Come, All Ye Faithful, Written-By – F. Oakley* - 1:40
         
Credits:
       
    Choir – Mormon Tabernacle Choir
    Directed By – Richard P. Condie
    Directed By [Assistant] – Jay Welch
    Liner Notes – Jay Welch
    Organ – Alexander Schreiner, Frank W. Asper
        
Notes:
       
Columbia gray, black and white Six Eye label
Track A7 - William Cummings (2) -> William Hayman Cummings
       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
        
    Matrix / Runout (Runout, Side A, Stamped (Except after H, inscribed)): XXSM47847-1AC H11//\-L
    Matrix / Runout (Runout, Side B, Stamped (Except H, inscribed)): XXSM47848-1CB H

Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Spirit Of Christmas: Christmas Carols Sung By The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Label: Columbia Masterworks – MS 6100
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genre: Classical
Style: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, Choral
         
Viewfinder links:        
         
Irving Berlin                
Hoagy Carmichael           
George M. Cohan        
WC Handy          
Johnny Mercer        
        
YouTube link:        
        
Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Spirit Of Christmas (complete album)         
        
        
         
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Monday, December 22, 2025        
       
 
 















June 20, 2024

Zdeněk Ziegler articles/mentions



  ~     
     
     
     
     
mentions:     
Igor Stravinsky ~ Oedipus Rex     
     
     
     
     
     
date & photographer unknown
      
   
     
     
        














June 17, 2024

20,000 vinyl LPs 365: Igor Stravinsky ~ Oedipus Rex

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vinyl LP front cover 
Graphics design – Zdeněk Ziegler
photo of album cover by Styrous®


Today is the birthday of Russian composer, Igor Stravinsky who was born on June 7, 1882, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Oedipus rex was written towards the beginning of Stravinsky's neoclassical period, and is considered one of the finest works from this phase of the composer's career. I personally think he is the greatest of the modern composers; some may disagree but then life is subjective after all.         
 
 
Under construction



 Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex
vinyl LP back cover
Graphics design – Zdeněk Ziegler
photo of album cover by Styrous®
 
 
 
 

  Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex
vinyl LP gatefold interior
Graphics design – Zdeněk Ziegler
photo of album cover by Styrous®
 
 
 
This recording of Oedipus rex is a stereo recording, however, it was recorded during the period of transition from monaural to stereo. The cover was printed for the mono version so a sticker was added to adjust for that.     
 

vinyl LP front cover detail
Graphics design – Zdeněk Ziegler
detail photo by Styrous®




 
 
John Green talks on Crash Course about one of the least family-friendly family dramas in the history of family dramas, Oedipus rex that is informational and very hysterical. Peter Sellars discusses the myths and rituals surrounding the Oedipus legend (links below).             
            



There are dozens of outstanding videos of performances of Oedipus rex on YouTube. I've linked to my favorites below; each has startling sets and costumes.           


libretto

 Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex
vinyl LP libretto cover 
Graphics design – Zdeněk Ziegler
photo by Styrous®
 
 
 
 

 Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex
vinyl LP libretto back cover 
Graphics design – Zdeněk Ziegler
photographer unknown
photo of libretto by Styrous®









Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex
vinyl LP side 1
photo of album cover by Styrous®






 
Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex
vinyl LP side 2
photo of album cover by Styrous®
 





   
Tracklist:
       
Side 1:
        
        Oedipus Rex - Opera-Oratorio After Sophocles   
A        Part 1   

       
Side 2:
       
B        Part 2   
       
Companies, etc.
       

       
Credits:
       
    Chorus – Czech Philharmonic Chorus
    Chorus Master – Josef Veselka
    Composed By – Igor Stravinsky
    Conductor – Karel Ančerl
    Edited By, Engineer – František Burda
    Graphics – Zdeněk Ziegler
    Liner Notes – Jaroslav Smolka
    Orchestra – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra*
    Recording Supervisor – Dr. Ladislav Šíp*
    Translated By – Jean Danielou*
    Voice Actor [Creon] – Karel Bermann*
    Voice Actor [Jocasta] – Věra Soukupová
    Voice Actor [Oedipus] – Ivo Žídek
    Voice Actor [Speaker] – Jean Desailly
    Voice Actor [The Messenger] – Zdeněk Kroupa
    Voice Actor [The Shepherd] – Antonín Zlesák
    Voice Actor [Tiresias] – Eduard Haken
    Written-By – Jean Cocteau
       
Notes:
       
℗ 1966 (label info)
(C) 1966 (sleeve info)
Gatefold sleeve w. Liner Notes in English, Russian, German & French
cont. 4-page-inlet w. Libretto in Latin
       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
        
    Rights Society: BIEM
    Price Code: G
    Other (Manufacturing Code): 66 2
    Other (side 1): E 729
    Other (side 2): E 730

         
 
Viewfinder links:        
         
Jean Cocteau          
Peter Sellars         
Igor Stravinsky        
Zdeněk Ziegler        
        
Net links:        
        
Britannica ~.   
        Oedipus Rex play by Sophocles         
        Oedipus-Greek-mythology            
Cliff'sNotes ~ Play Summary Oedipus the King        
SparkNotes ~ Oedipus Rex         
        
YouTube links:        
        
Igor Stravinsky  ~ Oedipus rex ~         
          Bernard Haitinik, Amsterdam, 1984          
          Seiji Ozawa, Japan 1992          
          Marius Stravinsky, Russia 2021          
Crash Course ~ Fate, Family, and Oedipus Rex        
Peter Sellars ~ Oedipus Rex: Stravinsky Myths & Rituals        
        
        
         
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Monday, June 17, 2024       
       
 
 


















February 24, 2020

Fats Domino ~ 1987 Lifetime Achievement Award

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On February 24, 1987, Fats Domino received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 29th annual Grammy Awards. It was two days before his birthday; what a great birthday present.      


photo by Skip Bolen

      
Three weeks later, school children from the Frikkemas School in Sneek, northern Netherlands, vied with each other for singer Domino's signature after he arrived at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam on March 13, 1987.       


Fats Domino - March 13, 1987 
Schiphol airport, Amsterdam 
photo by Hugo van Gelderen Anefo/​ AP


      
Thirty years later, Fats Domino died from natural causes on October 24, 2017, at his home in Harvey, Louisiana; he was 89 years old.      
         
    

          
Viewfinder links:        

Roy Acuff           
Benny Carter  
Enrico Caruso         
Ray Charles         
Fats Domino     
Woody Herman            
Billie Holiday        
B.B. King       
Igor Stravinsky       
Arturo Toscanini         
Hank Williams         
       
Net links:        
     
Billboard ~ Fats Domino: His Life in Photos         
Fats Domino website           
Grammy Awards ~ Fats Domino, Rock And Roll Icon, Dies       
Hits Daily Double ~ Fats Domino 1928-2017 obit       
        
YouTube link:        
        
"Fats" Domino         
         
        
       
          
       
Styrous® ~ Monday, February 24, 2020           
        









July 3, 2019

1,001 LaserDiscs 12: Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's The Planets

LaserDisc front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


Today, July 3, is the birthday of British film director, Ken Russell who was born in Southampton, England, in 1927. He is best known for his Oscar-winning film Women in Love (1969), The Devils (1971), Tommy by The Who (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980). Russell also directed several films based on the lives of classical music composer: Elgar, Delius, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Liszt.           
           

LaserDisc front cover
art director ~ J. J. Stelmach
cover art ~ Jeffery Schrier
photo by Styrous®


The Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.         
   
The premiere was at the Queen's Hall on 29 September 1918, conducted by Holst's friend Adrian Boult before an invited audience of about 250 people. The first complete public performance was finally given in London by Albert Coates conducting the London Symphony Orchestra on November 15, 1920.     


LaserDisc back cover
art director ~ J. J. Stelmach
cover art ~ Jeffery Schrier
photo by Styrous®


Each movement is intended to convey ideas and emotions associated with the influence of the planets on the psyche, not the Roman deities. The idea of the work was suggested to Holst by Clifford Bax, who introduced him to astrology when the two were part of a small group of English artists holidaying in Majorca in the spring of 1913.      

When composing The Planets Holst initially scored the work for four hands, two pianos, except for Neptune, which was scored for a single organ, as Holst believed that the sound of the piano was too percussive for a world as mysterious and distant as Neptune. Holst then scored the suite for a large orchestra. 

The influence of contemporary composers such as Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg, as well as late Russian romantics Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov can be heard.   

John Williams used the melodies and instrumentation of Mars as the inspiration for his soundtrack for the Star Wars films (specifically The Imperial March).       
   
The visuals were chosen by Russell to illustrate associations with the The Planets written, it should be remembered, before the discovery of the planet Pluto.       
  
LaserDisc back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®


In the late-1980s, Russell directed the music video for It's All Coming Back to Me Now, a song written and produced by Jim Steinman for his project with the female pop group, Pandora's Box. The production featured a range of erotic imagery, including studded bras and spiked codpieces. He'd also directed the Elton John video for Nikita which featured a bit of John wearing the same boots he wore as the Pinball Wizard in the film adaptation of Tommy by The Who.   


LaserDisc label detail
detail photo by Styrous®


The films of Ken Russell are often surreal as witness the YouTube links (below). Russell died on November 27,  2011, at the age of 84 after a series of strokes.    




Viewfinder links:      
     
Adolph Hitler 
Gustav Holst    
Elton John        
Arnold Schoenberg       
Star Wars   
Jim Steinman         
Igor Stravinsky               
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky                   
The Who         
John Williams       
    
Net links:      
   
John Coulthart ~ The Planets by Ken Russell         
Music Web ~ Ken Russell’s view of The Planets      
Jeffery Schrier website              
     
YouTube links:      
      
Ken Russell ~       
          The Planets ~ Jupiter  
          The Boyfriend     
          Dance of the Seven Veils (1970) complete (57 min., 29 sec.)  
          A Kitten For Hitler (8 min., 21 sec.)             
          The Music Lovers ~ 1812 Overture          
The Films of Ken Russell (15 min.)     
Ken Russell: Sex, God and Tchaikovsky (15 min., 19 sec.)     
Ken Russell on his filmmaking career (45 min., 23 sec.)      
William Friedkin ~ Ken Russell's The Devils         
   
     
         
         
Ken Russell ~ Gustav Holst's The Planets LaserDisc is for sale on eBay       
       
          
          
        
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, July 3, 2019
         



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1,001 LaserDiscs archive
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